ThadWatch!

A Message With Teeth in It*

2008-12-16T09:52:00.000-08:00

I haven't seen Thad move so fast or with so much determination in his short little life.

We were at Grandpa and Grandma's house for the weekend. It was time for the morning brushing of his teeth. Of course, there was too much fun going on to stop for brushing teeth--and so the discussion began. Only this time, Grandma was there to put in her two cents' worth, too. Thad was unpersuaded.

But I knew something about Grandma that Thad didn't know.

"Mom, show Thad your false teeth!"

So Mom called to Thad, who turned to look at her just as she pushed out her top set and I was saying, "Grandma didn't brush her teeth when she was a little girl and so she lost all her teeth. Now she has to wear fake ones!"

Thad's eyes were the size of . . . beach balls. He raced into the bathroom, raced back out to the living room to grab the foot stool so he could reach the sink, and raced back into the bathroom. Several minutes later we got his response.

"Dad!!! Look at how shiny my teeth are!"

There just isn't anything like an object lesson.

*HUGE thanks to Grandma for letting me out her!

a Birthday Wish (and a slight kvetching detour) for GrandDaddy

2008-12-15T14:32:00.001-08:00

Christmas #1: The Iowa GrandParents!

2008-12-13T20:50:00.000-08:00

Gathering the Grands to hear the Old, Old Story.

Looking attentive but thinking, "Can we open presents yet?"

A new Jedi Master is born . . .

So much power in my hands!!!

SSoooooo excited!!!!

And now for the other Christmas Miracle:

Trying to get Mom to keep her eyes open for a picture at the same time that Dad smiles and the kids at least look at the camera, even if it is a surly look . . .

Merry Christmas, Grandpa & Grandma! Thanks for the GREAT gifts!

On the Occasion of Your Fourth Birthday

2008-11-29T22:56:00.000-08:00

Dear Thaddeus Evan:

I think I didn't write this on your birthday because I am trying to deny that you are really growing up. Every cliche about the time flying and you growing so fast, etc., is true. I have enjoyed every day, every stage that has led us to your fourth birthday. You are the most loveable sinner I have ever known!

This year you have matured a lot. Some of it was natural progression and some of it was forced on you. You graduated to big-boy underpants--and you did it in under two weeks. I am forever grateful to the book Everyone Poops which made pooping on the potty so much fun for you!

You also relinquished your binkies (the four that you slept with plus the six that you kept in various areas of our house). I say relinquished instead of gave up because there was no giving on your part. It was not your idea, nor a good idea to your way of thinking. However, once we explained that other children needed your binkies, you reluctantly consented to send them to those poor needy urchins.

This summer you made friends with the pool. The first few weeks you wouldn't move off the steps of Uncle Matt and Auntie Bea's pool. But one afternoon, when Auntie Julie was in the pool watching you while I was at an appointment, she coaxed you off the steps and there was no looking back for you! Auntie Julie is an expert at getting people to do things they don't know they want to do!!

You became a fish and it became impossible to get you out of the pool! With your water wings on, you paddled merrily all over the pool with "large Superman" (who is actually all of three inches high) in one hand and a water rocket in the other. Auntie Julie's next task is to get you to simply shake the water out of your eyes when you are splashed, rather than insisting on going to the edge of the pool and wiping your eyes with a towel! Next year.

As you read this years from now, Thad, you probably willl think, "Large Superman? Three inches high?" Large Superman has been your security blanket, rarely leaving your hand. In fact, you were so attached that we got a spare on ebay incase Large Superman ever flew away. Your love of Superman has only grown over the last two years. This year you insisted on a Superman costume again AND a Superman-themed birthday party.

You also have matured relationally. You revel in your cousins and when all of you are together you are a tribe. You adore Eliza and you look up to Andy. You are learning to share and to hold your own. You also enjoy Bible study childcare--there are six boys in the room and by the time I come pick you up, you are spent!

You are growing intellectually, too! You love preschool and I couldn't have been prouder at the parent-teacher conference. You are a sponge and very curious: why, why, why to the seventh level down. And I am simply not smart enough to explain the physics and trigonometry behind it all. So I give the best answer I have: "Let's ask Daddy when he gets home; I'm sure he knows!"

You know your ABCs (now that you have just recently decided to allow L into the alphabet). You can count to 30 two times out of five attempts: you don't like 14 and 15 and you don't like me forcing them on you! You have decided you want to be called Thad and I am convinced it's because you don't want to learn to write Thaddeus. But you write Thad really well and you take pride in signing your name. Tonight you brought a bag of marshmallows to me on which you had "written" something. You translated for me: "I love Dad and I love Mama, and I love Thaddeus and we have Christianson love."

One of your weaknesses is that you are a budding perfectionist. You often will balk at doing something until you know you can do it perfectly, and you are hard on yourself when something you do isn't up to your standards. So when an A doesn't meet perfectly at the top, you will cross it out and say, "I didn't do it right!" Daddy and I are working at making sure we ease up on ourselves so you don't get the idea that perfection is the goal.

You also have a temper! I would love to say I don't know where it comes from, but I know myself too well. Daddy and I have tried to gather wise counsel and also read and re-read Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood. We are so pleased wth the progress you have made in handling your anger. We have stressed to you that it is okay to feel anger and to express it in ways that don't hurt yourself or others. You have really caught on well.

We have had an interesting year. I had several small strokes and a surgical procedure to repair a dissecting carotid aneurysm. The week that I was in the hospital was the first time that you and I hadn't slept in the same house since you were born. We were so fortunate to have Uncle Matt and Auntie Bea close by, and you just rolled with the crisis and bedded down with them quite nicely! We both survived the separation and are probably better for it!

You also are going to church and Sunday School and enjoy Sunday School a lot. I am so thrilled at the Biblical education you are getting. My deepest, fondest, most passionate dream/prayer/desire for you is that you know God, know His love for you and are passionate to love others out of His love. I believe knowing His word is the surest foundation for my dream for you being realized. You are conversant about God and Jesus, and often will talk about Jesus dying on the cross. You love Bible stories and will listen to 10 in a row at bedtime and still want more. Right now Samson has caught your fancy. You can't understand why he would let a girl get the best of him!

When you were still riding around in my tummy, I hoped that when you finally talked you would call me Mama. However, from the first time that you addressed me, it has been Mom. And of course, because it was you and said in your inimitable way, Mom was wonderful and I didn't give Mama another thought.Then, just after I came home from the hospital, you started calling me Mama. Just like that. And it is said with such affection and love, that it is . . . breathtaking. I thought maybe it would taper off, but it hasn't and it has been a wonderful gift to hear you call me Mama.

Along with my new name, you also have become very cuddily and love to, what you call, "snuggle-buggle-wuggle" with me. Several times a day you make sure to tell me that I am your best mama, that you love me so much . . . You rub your cheek on mine and pat my other cheek with your hand. It's heaven.

You ADORE your dad!!! The two of you have loads of fun adventuring together around the house and outside with swords and capes and pirate treasure and forts . . . You two have created a whole ongoing story about Captain T-Addeus and D-Daddeus with sidekicks Chaser the Dog, Superman, Batman, and LarryBoy. You wrestle, you chase, you play at the Man Store (Menards and Home Depot), you burp . . . . you glory in each other and your shared testosterone. It's a beautiful, gross thing to behold!

You also are getting into jokes. Like any toddler-preschooler, your made-up jokes put you into hysterics while Daddy and I are grinning at your silliness. You are starting to get the humor of some jokes and your favorite is "Why does the chicken cross the road?" and "Why did the elephant paint his toenails purple?" You also like a good knock-knock joke and again, make them up at your whim!

On a day-to-day level, you are simply delightful and a joy. You are witty, funny, active, imaginative (you carry on whole conversations with yourself and imaginary friends), and creative. You love playing what Auntie Shannon and Uncle Dude used to call "People". Superheroes, stuffed animals, pencils, Little People all become characters in your elaborate play. It is common for you to command Daddy or me: "Make LarryBoy talk! Make Large Superman talk!" Daddy is better at this than me!!!

You love to make art and enjoy painting, coloring, drawing on any kind of paper that is around. I have made an art wall for you and you take real pride in putting up your artwork. As the collection has grown, you enjoy rearranging what will be on top and what needs some touch-up work.

You are 39.5" tall and you hover at 35 pounds. You have loooonnnngggg legs. Your eyes are a lovely hazel that favor green, particularly when you wear green (which I stock your wardrobe with!). Your hair is a dark blond right now and unfortuntely, you got your mama's pale complexion! You also drew the short stick and have your daddy's allergies and so you take Zyrtec and Nasonex every day, something that you remind me daily is boring and that you don't like. Although I ask if you want to pick out your clothes, you usually tell me to do it.

In short, you are a gift from God! A week doesn't go by that Dad and I don't look at each other and express how great you are, how blessed we are, and wonderful God is to have given you to us. You inspire us to be better people, better lovers of God and each other, better parents. There is a saying that to have a child is to have your heart go walking around outside your body and that is so profoundly true. I get sick to my stomach when I think of harm coming to you, from others or from me. I so want you to be able to be safe and yet I know the call for me is to prepare you to be God's man in whatever situation.

Lately we have been talking about your name and I told you again what it meant: brave and kindhearted. You are both of those things and I pray you will grow into the fullness of what God defines those terms to be. You are well on your way, all thanks to God.

Thaddeus, Thad: I love you so much. Thank you for four wonderful years. I look forward to the next year . . . and pray it goes SLOWLY!

All my love,

Mama

Catching Up

2008-11-01T23:21:00.000-07:00

on a hayride with preschool classmates

mugging for camera

"look mama! I'm Yoda!"

angel

farm kitten

cousin Cowboy Andy

new star wars gun from Uncle Christian

Hugo Fire Department's 100th Birthday

Sir Thaddeus, Knight of the Realm

Scurvy Pirates

true Iowa farm boy: loves sweet corn!

precious

loving Cousin Eliza ("Cousin Ewiza & Faddeus")

Thad & his fleet

Heard in Our House Lately, Part Trois

2008-07-09T16:20:00.000-07:00

"StormTrooperMom, I just saw Darth Vader behind the red couch. He tried to take my gun, but I had my finger in the hole."

"Oh, good for you, StormTrooperThad! Can't let him get the gun!"

"No! But StormTrooperMom, why is it so hard to defeat him? Why, why is it so hard to defeat him, StormTrooperMom???"

Thaddeus & His Water World

2008-07-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

After a bad experience during swimmin lessons last year (the pool heater had broken and they didn't tell anyone and they little two-year-olds had blue lips and shivery bodies), Thad has been very cool toward the pool.

However, peer pressure came to the rescue. When the object of Thad's affection, his cousin Eliza the Lovely, jumped in sporting pink ruffled water wings, Thad just needed a little "coaxing" to strap on his manly blue water wings and get in. To the sounds of all his aunties and cousins cheering him on, he started paddling all over the pool and stayed in for well over an hour!

The aforementioned Eliza the Lovely!

Isn't he delightful!

How Old Am I?

2008-07-07T00:10:00.000-07:00

As we were telling Thad about the Fourth of July, he was interested to know what it was really all about, which is hard to explain in three-year-old vocabulary! We told him about the Revolutionary War and how our country was started, etc., and all I could picture was Thad was hearing what the kids on the Peanuts cartoons heard when their parents or teachers were talking to them: "Mwah-mwah-mwah . . . Mwah-mwah-mwah-mwah!"

So then I told him about the parade we were going to attend.

"Mama, what's a parade?"

"Well, it's a line of people on floats, in cars, on bikes, etc., who are there to celebrate the anniversary of our independence. There will be clowns, too."

"Clowns?!?! I haven't seen clowns in my whole five years, Mama!!"

Wow, Thad. How sad. Particularly since YOU ARE ONLY THREE!

Uncle Matt showed up in Forest Lake at 5a to get us front row seats!

Is there anything better than a parade with your favorite cousins!?

Well, someone has to do the dirty work. God bless this guy!

Fawn-Doe-Rosa!

2008-06-17T23:44:00.000-07:00

If ever you are in Minnesota, you just can't miss this! Thad and his 12 COUSINS had an absolutely great day at this wonderful farm, petting deer and goats and sheep and rabbits . . . too much fun!

P.S. I did not pick out the outfit. However, he was the one most prepared for all the mud around the farm!

To Grandmother's House We Go!

2008-06-12T23:13:00.000-07:00

We headed down to Iowa to see Grandpa and Grandma, and to check out the incredible flooding. It was a good week!

This is supposed to be a bean field. I stitched two pictures together so you could get the scope of the LAKES that stand in the fields.

I grew up in Iowa and I have seen some rain, but I have never seen anything like this.

Thad was enamored with the cats. The feeling wasn't so mutual. This did not stop Thad.

"I am NOT tired and I WILL watch the shark show with Grandma . . . ZZZzzzzzzz."

With Great-Great Aunt Rachel, who is 92!

Heard in Our House Lately, Part Deux

2008-05-31T23:09:00.000-07:00

(Thad has a little Bible that he really loves. It's very basic, with pictures, for little kids his age.)

Last night/this morning at approximately 3a:

“Dad! I brought you my big Bible. I am going to swap Bibles with you so you can have this one.”

“Thanks, Thad. That’s very kind of you.”

(Mommy giggling under covers.)

“You’re welcome, Dad. Enjoy your Bible!”

“I will. Thank you, again!”

“I am going in my room to read my Bible!”

(Mommy giggling maniacally but quietly.)

“Okay, Thad. I am just going to go to stay in my bed and sleep.”

“Well, okay. I’m just going to go read my Bible.”

(Little feet climbing back in his bed.)

(Little voice telling himself the Old, Old Story.)

Heard in Our House Lately

2008-05-30T23:04:00.000-07:00

So, Thad has been on a linguistic roll lately. I knew you would want to hear the pearls dripping from his lips!

Background: “Poof” Car had been missing for about a month, which had caused quite a bit of consternation.

(Daddy and Thad putting on their coats to go to church. Thad was wearing a coat he hadn’t worn in about, oh, a month.)

(As he puts his hands in his pockets):

“Dad! Look! I found Poof Car!

“Wow, Thad, that’s great!”

“He was in my pocket!”

“Good job finding him. Where did you think he was?”

“Well, I thought either a monster or Sethie had taken him.”

(Seth is his cousin who is about 15 months younger than him but who does share some traits with Calvin of Calvin & Hobbes.)

Winds and Tornadoes and Hail OH! MY!

2008-05-25T23:32:00.000-07:00

Pete and Thad did great with their first big Midwest tornado and hail storms! That particularly loved the aftermath! I think he playd in the hail for over an hour! Pete, meanwhile, steadied himself with a Makers Mark and Ginger (just kidding)!

Thad got out his shovel and decided to play!

He also found out that hail is round and slippery . . . BOOM!

Dad & Thad had a great time measuring the hail, storing some of it in the freezer for later fond remembrance, and scoping out the damage on the house. Our siding has a multitude of chunks missing and the roof will be repaired. We kept all our windows, but our neighbors were not so lucky.

All was not fun and games for everyone. Just over one mile away, people lost their homes and a family lost their three-year-old son. The three of us are very aware that we are not lucky, but very, very fortunate.

a Little Nostalgia

2008-05-19T08:06:00.000-07:00

It doesn't matter whether you buy a toy gun or not; it's inevitable.

Thad got to be the first one in Uncle Matt & Auntie Bea's pool this season!

His bad mother forgot sunscreen :(

No tired cousins, here. Hm-mm. Nosirree.

I'm feeling a little nostalgic after having found this and some other clips on our hard drive . . .

Yet he is every bit as delicious now--I just can understand him now!

Watch. Your. Step.

2008-04-29T15:39:00.001-07:00

I Feel Bad for You!

2008-04-29T15:15:00.000-07:00

I am sorry you have been denied some Thad for so long . . . but I am now back on task and will bring you UNLIMITED THAD!

There. Don't you feel better?

A Little Behind . . . .

2007-10-10T21:12:00.000-07:00

I have not written as much as I think about writing (Every. Single. Day.), but they say a pictures is worth 1000 words. Here, then, are my updated entries!

My Little 50's Boy . . . Look at that front curl!

Zee Artist!

I Want to be Just Like My Daddy.

Sir Thaddeus of the Delightful Imagination!

I'll finish scrubbing the floor at the commercial, Mom!

If you let me keep this binky, I'll let you have one!!

Dad & Thad Late Night Snack Session (Otherwise called Thad's Successful Attempt of Getting Out of Bed and Staying Up With His Pal Longer!

Thad's New Best SuperFriend!

Until I Can Get a Tatoo, My Girl's On My Shirt!

Avast Ye, Scurvy Dogs. Argh!

We've Been Working on a Project This Summer: PART 2

2007-08-02T14:07:00.000-07:00

When last we left Thad, he was snoozling away in his Big Boy Bed with his Bed Pals. The next morning, we made a huge deal that HE WAS SUCH A BIG BOY! SLEEPING!! IN HIS OWN!!! BIG!!! BOY!!! BED!!! YEA, THAD!!! He looked at me and said, "Do I get a trophy, Mom?"

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm . . . . Of course you do, Thad!

"I didn't expect this! I didn't prepare anything to say! Oh my! There's so many people to thank!"

"You know, I really worked hard for this. I never thought I would be able to sleep without my mom. But my parents never gave up on me. They believed in me. They seemed to want it more than I did!"

"Wow. I am just so stunned. I just tried to do my best, you know? I did some research on how it felt for others to sleep in their own beds and then tried to step into that experience, you know? I didn't want to let my audience down. It's all for them, you know?"

"It's definitely been my most demanding work--it has just made me dig deep inside myself. And I asked myself repeatedly: 'Can you really do this?' And my parents kept reassuring me that I could. I really, really, really could!"

"I'm King of the Bed!"

We've Been Working on a Project This Summer: PART 1

2007-08-02T13:30:00.000-07:00

Once preschool let out, I had three goals for Thad to accomplish in three months:

June: Sleep in his own bed by himself.

July: Wean off his nighttime binkies (needs 3-4: one for mouth, one for each hand, and ideally one to clip onto the bridge of his nose. I don't know.).

August: Make use of the restroom facilities thus making diapers obsolete.

I know that all you seasoned moms are laughing at me because you know what is coming next, don't you? You may call me delusional; I prefer to call myself a visionary.

Whatever I am, I am the mother of a Big Boy who is sleeping in his own bed, by himself, but with frequent escapes to the Motherbed. This means Mom and Dad are up several times a night putting escapee back in Big Boy Bed.

This also means that said Big Boy still enjoys binkies and diapers (Although he most enjoys naked time, which we have to regulate with a timer so we can get out of the house once in a while, but that's another story.)!

Here's the story in pictures:

First, we got a wonderful captain's bed for Thad with a good boxspring and mattress. It is quite high off the floor so we decided to opt for bedrails rather than stitches. Just a personal preference.

Then Thad and I went looking for some Sleep Pals. We spent about an hour with the menagerie at Toys R Us and Thad finally felt like Pablo (from the Backyardigans) and Puppy Dog would be great company in his Big Boy Bed.

Turns out he was right! Pablo does a great song-and-dance routine each night before bed, and then Puppy Dog keeps watch over our Big Boy!

To be continued . . .

Character Abounds!

2007-08-02T13:17:00.000-07:00

So happy to be on his bike!

Enjoying a lollipop before blast-off.

The only thing under that coat is a diaper!

"Take a picture of me, Mom! Of me! Of me! Take it, Mom!"

A monster is after Daddy!

Look at All the Cuteness You've Been Missing Because I Am a Slacker Blogger!

2007-08-02T12:43:00.000-07:00

Even Superheroes need some lunch!

An accordion duet with Great Bea!

Roping the chairs that broke outta there pens.

Grandma tickles me . . . No, really she tickles me!

Grandma Johnnie Would be So Proud!

2007-06-22T09:28:00.000-07:00

My Grandma Johnnie, who passed away nine years ago, was a birder extraordinaire. Several times a week, if not once a day, during the summer, she would round up stragglers into the car and we would drive all over the farm and beyond looking at birds. It is a passion she has handed down to her daughters, granddaughters . . . and now her great-grandson.

For my birthday (43!) Pete and Thad got me a birdhouse and the birds--including my Grandma's favorite, the red cardinal--have FLOCKED to our backyard! It has been a joy!

Thad has really gotten into the birds and will go outside and, standing under the tree, talk to the "birdies": "Thank you for coming to our yard, boidies! Come eat, boidies! We have more food for you!"

So it was clear he needed a pair of binoculars, which he has put to good use!

I delight in watching Thad watch the birds with me, and I grieve I cannot share this with Grandma Johnnie.

Cowboy Thad

2007-06-22T09:26:00.000-07:00

Thad has a new ride. The "cowboy hat" is my gardening hat. It suits the purpose.

He rides well!

From Whence Did This Enter the Lexicon?

2007-06-22T09:24:00.000-07:00

Currently, everything is "Yucky and Doity, Mom." Whatever he doesn't want to do or touch.

"No, Mom. That is Yucky and Doity."

Ooooooooooo. Kay.

Look Who is Sleeping in His Big Boy Bed!!!

2007-06-22T08:56:00.000-07:00

Last week Thad and I talked about his lonely Big Boy Bed. I told him that Friday night he was going to get to sleep in it finally! On Thursday, I told him we would go and pick out two buddies for him to take to his new Big Boy Bed. Much excitement was built!

Friday afternoon we went to Toys R Us and after a lot of careful consideration, Thad came home with Puppy Dog, a border collie, and Sleepy Pablo, one of the Backyardigans.

We went home and got ready for bed. (I slept on a mattress on his floor for the first week; tonight I am next door!) He climbed up into bed, cuddling Puppy Dog (his official name), and with nary a tear or complaint, 20 minutes later he was asleep.

And it's been smooth sailing ever since. He has made a couple half-hearted attempts of telling me he is going to sleep with me, but no problem getting into bed. He also told Pete that he was going to sleep with him, but again, once Pete talked up the Big Boy Bed, he was fine.

We are VERY, VERY PROUD of our Big Boy!

Where's Thad?

2007-06-06T08:11:00.000-07:00

This is a game we play often. He puts a hat or a blanket or a shirt over his face and we say, "Where's Thad? Daddy, have you seen Thad? Where did he go?" All the time, he is giggling, gigglinb, giggling. Then he throws off the cover and says, "Here I am!" And rolls around laughing!

But my favorite is when he puts on the lion mask and chases us around growling while we scream for Thad to come save us!

He will chase us around for about 30 seconds, then lift off the mask and say, reassuringly, "It's just me, Mom. It's just me."

Oh, thank God it is you, Thad. Truly, thank God.

His Photography Skills are Coming Along . . .

2007-06-06T08:07:00.000-07:00

You just have to make sure that you are in the general area

at which he is pointing the camera lens . . . which may require some gymnastics.

Our personal favorite: the self-taken photo . . . of his feet!

Thad's New Job!

2007-06-06T08:05:00.000-07:00

Babysitting!!

a Word Picture

2007-06-06T08:02:00.001-07:00

I am not allowed to take a picture, but close your eyes and see if you can picture it yourself . . .

Thad has a swim mask on, upside down, along with his superhero cape. (Black, which doesn't exactly go with his red, white, and blue striped shirt and blue shorts.)

He just walked up to me:

"How do I look, Mom?

"Do I look cool?"

Why yes, Thad. Yes you do!

Proof I Am a Good Mom!

2007-05-05T10:39:00.000-07:00

I made playdough (playdo? How DO you spell it!?) for Thad. Without chemicals, with wonderful vanilla smell, and EDIBLE!

AND it doesn't stick to anything and it cleans up well and best of all . . .

THAD LOVES IT!!!

Living With SuperHeroes . . .

2007-05-03T16:10:00.000-07:00

. . . is TOO MUCH FUN!!

Camp Christianson

2007-04-25T06:55:00.000-07:00

Thad really wants to go camping. So Pete obliged him . . .

Roasting "marshmellows" (grapes) over the fire

Everyone knows you have to blow on the marshmellow before you put it in your mouth!

Mmmm-mmmm . . . perfectly browned . . . and even better with ketchup!

No Explanation Needed

2007-04-24T11:45:00.000-07:00

A GREAT Red Wagon Gift!

2007-04-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

I am sure you have heard of the red-wagon gift? The little boy who got his grandmother a red wagon for her birthday because he really wanted one? I've always loved that story (and love giving red wagon gifts, too!).

Well, Thad got a wonderful red wagon gift from his Grandparents Christianson: a real red wagon. And we can barely get him out of it!

He watches tv in it, he colors in it, he eats breakfast in it, he has tried to sleep in it, he has ridden on the bike trail in it, he . . . well, you get the idea. Thad loves his red wagon!

He Actually Had More Fun Here Than These Pictures Would Suggest

2007-04-11T22:08:00.000-07:00

Thomas the Train was in Grapevine a few weeks back. Since he was so close, we thought it would be fun for Thad to meet his hero! While the pictures look like our idea bombed, they don't tell the story of a little boy so overwhelmed at actually being on a train that he just didn't know what to do with himself!

While we were riding on Thomas, we saw this little "KiddieSteam" ride and Thad wanted to give it a go. I told Pete I was sure Thad was not old enough to hand pedal on his own, let alone walk into the ride by himself. Pete encouraged me, "Let's just see."

How wrong can I be? Pretty wrong. Thad turned to Pete and said, "Dad, I want to ride this!" The ride operator told Pete that Thad would have to walk in on his own steam (get it!?). He opened the gate and Thad ran in and quickly took possession of the red engine. He did great!

He was very serious about the whole thing. I couldn't get him to smile for the camera, but he loved every second of the huge THREE MINUTES they let him ride! He was quite irritated that he couldn't go again and again and again, and could only be lured away by telling him Thomas was back at the station and we needed to go say goodbye to him. Which he did.

This is Thad after saying goodbye to Thomas. He is showing the picture he had made of us with Thomas. He is very excited to have the picture.

Too bad he couldn't show that excitement IN the picture!

He cried walking away from the train station. He cried getting into his car seat. He cried before bed. And every day since, he has stuck his lower lip out, furrowed his brow and said, "Mommy, I miss Thomas. I want Thomas to come back!"

Those outrageously expensive tickets to ride for 30 minutes were TOTALLY worth it!

He Also Had More Fun Than THIS Picture Would Suggest

2007-04-11T22:01:00.000-07:00

What's Your Pleasure, Jerry?

2007-04-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

Thad has a stuffed giraffe named Jerry who is a very close friend of his. Today, Jerry and Thad were sitting in their new wagon (thanks, Grandmommy & Granddaddy!) and wanted to watch a little tv. I asked Thad if he would rather watch Wonder Pets or Backyardigans.

Thad turned to Jerry: "Jerry, wanna watch Wonder Pets or Backyardigans?"

Apparently, Jerry was in the mood for a little Wonder Pets.

Thad & Jerry a few months back.

Jerry getting a ride on Thad's shoulders (and Thad's face full of peanut butter . . . yeesh!).

"It's NEVER Too Early . . .

2007-03-30T15:11:00.000-07:00

to Get Them Washing Dishes" is my motto.

Seriously, this is just another of Thad's and his father's attempts to turn the house into a waterpark. You should have seen the puddle on the floor when the park closed; as Thad says, "Cooooool!"

Even better was the sound of Pete's coaxing: "Okay, Buddy. Now that we've had fun, it's time to clean up. C'mon, Sport. I'll help you. Thad? Excuse me, Thad? We need to clean up now, Buddy. Come on, Thad. Thad?"

HeeHeeHee!

By the way, look at our son's loooooonnnnnngggggg legs!

"I a Clown, Mom!"

2007-03-23T08:48:00.000-07:00

Yes. Yes, you are, Son!

See One, Do One, Teach One

2007-03-23T08:40:00.000-07:00

I looked up from vacuuming and our son had my camera in his hands, snapping away, saying,

"Oh, cute!

Nice one, Mom!

Say 'Cheese!', Mom!

So cute, Mom!"

A Message from Heaven

2007-03-22T15:12:00.000-07:00

"Come, Mom. I need your help . . . Come, please, Mom."

Chocolate Love!

2007-03-21T18:12:00.000-07:00

a Thad Funny

2007-03-21T17:38:00.000-07:00

He is sitting beside me with his arm up through the neck-hole of his shirt, saying to his arm, "Hi, Arm! Hi, Arm!"

Does He Have Any Hope of Being Normal?

2007-03-17T21:48:00.000-07:00

The other day, Pete and Thad (who is now 28 months) came in the house singing "Photosynthesis" after a backyard science lesson. (One I should have joined, as my eight-grade science teacher, Mr. Bromann, would attest.)

You really haven't lived until you hear a todder lisp-singing, "Photosynthesis, photosynthesis. Photosynthesis, photosynthesis."

Honestly, you just haven't lived.

Can He Get Any Cuter??

2007-03-17T21:33:00.000-07:00

SuperBoy with cape and Santa PJs . . .

Too Cool for School!

His Wow Wow Wubbsy Imitation.

His Curious George Imitation.

Don't ask.

Another First

2007-02-25T11:25:00.000-08:00

Look who has pinkeyeS!
(and a double ear infection)
(woo-hoo!)

Our First School Valentine's Day

2007-02-19T06:41:00.000-08:00

And MY heart is full.

What Boys Do When Moms Aren't Around

2007-02-12T16:16:00.000-08:00

(actually, i put the ones on his ears . . . but only because he asked.)

Thadcasso

2007-02-11T15:22:00.000-08:00

Thad was drawing and narrating at the same time.

He told us that the above is a plane and his eyes are blue.

This makes sense because Thad has two Fisher Price planes that have faces!

These two pictures are Thad's first school pictures! He brought them home and asked us to hang them in his room on his wall, along with his Happy Feet Penguin picture he had me tear out of a magazine!

We're hoping that this talent will take care of us in our old age.

This is New

2007-02-10T19:49:00.000-08:00

Thad took Pete into his room today and started pointing at things and saying to Pete, "No touch. No touch, Dada. No touch."

Okay, Thad.

DING! You're TWO!

2007-01-22T09:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Thaddeus Evan Woodrow:

A few months ago, you hit a landmark: you turned two years old! Unfortunately, it happened in the midst of preparation for a cross-country move and so I didn't get to blog your birthday. But I don't mind being late--I just want to make sure that we mark it, because you are magnificent, Son.

Your da and I still marvel daily at your presence in our lives. You are such an easy, fun and delightful child! Even when you are naughty--which doesn't seem to happen more than one or two times a day--you repent so easily and with real sorrow, that even the "hard" times aren't too hard.

Not to say you are perfect: the other night, when I returned to the bathroom and found at least one-third of the tub water (no exaggeration!) on the floor and you merrily scooping more out, delightful wasn't the word that immediately came to mind! You were having great fun and when I came in, you looked up at me, raised that darling left eyebrow at me, pointed at the bathroom floor and said, "I scoop water, Mama!" My first thought was, "Why are you trying to ruin my life?" The next was, "Ooh, that's my problem not his!" The third thought was, "Wow, he is really proud of himself--and he spoke to me in a sentence! Yea!" The final thought was, "Can you put a naked boy in Time Out?"

Yes, we have entered the Time Out Era. THEY say that time should last one minute for each year old the child is. So last month, we started two-minute time-outs. We put you in a chair facing a corner. When we put you there we always explain why you are spending time there and you always shake your head sadly, as if agreeing with us that you do need to be in Time Out. The first time I put you there, I let you know why you were in there, that you were to be quiet in Time Out and that I would set the kitchen timer for two minutes. When you heard the bell ding, then you could get out.

Your dad and I wondered how this would go. I set the timer and then we stood there looking at each other. Well, you were amazing. I think about 20 seconds went by without a peep out of you. I was so proud of you; then, about five seconds later I heard a little voice call out, "DING!" You turned and looked at us with a big smile!

Two minutes is such. a. long. long. long. time. when. you. are. two. years. old.

You love to sing and Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is your first song that you initiate to sing. You also love Jesus Loves Me and you fall asleep easily when I sing Blessed Assurance, Oh How I Love Jesus and Holy, Holy, Holy.

You are growing like a weed and we can't seem to keep you in pants. You finally hit the 50% for weight (up from the 5%) and your dad about threw you a party!

You are concerned that I remember you are my baby. A few times a week you crawl into my lap and say, "I your baby."

Thad in his co-sleeper.

I assure you that you will always be my baby but that you are also my little boy. It is a mama's task to assure you of your place in her heart and in the world, and I want you to know that you have an immutable place in my heart. Still, I also want you to know that I want you to grow up and fly the nest. I am counting on God's perfecting work in you so that you will impact this world in such a way as to make His kingdom more visible.

You started preschool this week at Teddy Bear Junction. This new step highlighted the ambivalence you and I have regarding this growing up process. I don't think I was ever as proud as you as I was when you cautiously but bravely walked into your classroom and simply began playing with the toys. I knew it was hard for you to leave me, but you didn't cling or sob or dissolve. You gave me a last touch and then you moved into your new world.

The classroom has a shaded window at which the parents can stand and watch without the children seeing us. I stood there for 10 or 15 minutes, tears running down my face and love unbelievably expanding in my heart. You did very well both days, Thaddeus!

Your favorite things to do with your da are hunting dinosaurs and ghosts (at which you wiggle your fingers and whisper, " 'pooky, Dada!"), playing engineer with your trains,

zooming cars around the house, and playing in water.

Your dad stood by while you played in the water!

Your favorite thing to do with Mama: cuddle.

You run through the house calling out, "Superhero!" (through your binky, often)

Those are your sleeper pajamas fastened 'round your neck!

You also like to draw (and hold your crayons and pens like an adult), you enjoy playdough, cleaning (go figure), wearing your lion mask and growling, riding your trike around the yard and the house, bathtime

and pretty girls.

Jess & You saying goodbye . . .

You and Katielyn had way too much fun!

You LOVE chocolate, cake, cookies and can smell on our breath if we have had anything remotely sweet!

On your second birthday

More and more you are wanting to be like your dad. When you hear the garage door open at night, you run to the door to the garage, start pounding on it and yelling, "Knock, knock, Da! Knock, knock, DaDa!" When you hear his car door shut, you go even more wild so that when he finally opens the door, you often fall over backwards in hysterical laughter and then fly into his arms!

It is not uncommon for you to walk up to your dad, put your arms around him, and say, "You're my best." (We tell you you're the best a lot and I think you have picked it up!)

You had a great second birthday! The actual day was shared with the Shettlers, whom we adore. You enjoyed diving into the cake; who needs a song?

Your Bob-the-Builder-themed party was well-attended. You played Pin-the-Wrench-on-Bob. Your girlfriend, Jess, made your cake (THANK YOU, JESS!! THANK YOU!!!!!). You received wonderful presents and generally had a wonderful time!

Your other best friend is Curious George. I think I know every frame of the Curious George movie now. Luckily, it is a great movie!

George also made an appearance at Christmas!

We have a lot of fun with you and we love our family! We so anticipate watching you grow into a three year old!

Self-taken on Christmas Day; you hardly know what to do with us!

Thaddeus, you are a gift, a delight, a treasure, an imp, a genius, a beloved little boy.

WE LOVE YOU!

Mama (& Dada!)

A Worthy Hero

2006-06-23T10:56:00.000-07:00

Stephen is so patient and good with Thaddeus. He LOVES to make Thad laugh and he will spend time with him whenever Thad is around. He is trying to figure out what to do with a 19-month-old who insists on following you every.where.you.go. Who wants to touch your hair and hug on you and squeals every time he sees you. Who has so much affection-energy that he plays you with his drumsticks and gives you love-thumps on your heard. Who starts flapping his arms when your name is even mentioned. It is hard to be someone's hero. Particular when they have a vocabulary of about 15 words and haven't developed a lot of social graces yet.

Still, Stephen doesn't just rise to the occasion; he masters it. He kindly bears Thad's focused attention and even better, he thrills to make Thaddeus laugh in very creative ways. He will take prat falls, play chase, allow his hair to be messed, make funny faces and sounds . . . it seems endless.

Stephen has won my heart by handling Thad's heart so well.

Thanks, Stephen!

(and Cliff & Sandy for raising such a lovely son!)

Closing the Deal

2006-06-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Like Father, Like Son.

On a Fine June Day . . .

2006-06-20T09:29:00.000-07:00

. . . he wouldn't leave the house without his hat and mitten (I guess the other hand was warm enough).

Isn't he the BEST?!??

Just Another Beautiful Day in SAHM-ville

2006-06-13T16:23:00.000-07:00

I just changed Thad’s diaper, in the bathtub, because the contents were everywhere—including down his legs, up his back, in his socks, on the back of his arms(??) and all over me by the time I got him up the stairs.

Depositing him in the tub, I took off all his clothing, showered him down (while all the time he is reaching for me for a hug), then scrubbed him with soap. I got him out, held him, toweled him off, fresh diapered and clothed him and sent him on his way. I then rinsed out and wrapped up his clothing and threw it in the wash.

The diaper and the onesie???? I threw them away. I couldn’t bear to try and separate the onesie from the diaper so I could rinse it out and put it in the washer. So Thad has one less onesie. I think it’s recyclable, so it shouldn’t disturb the earth-lovers too much.

Clean baby? Check.
Disinfected bathtub? Check.
Biohazard contained? Check.

Sanity? Ch—?

Oh well.

Totally worth it.

Indescribable

2006-05-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

he said his first sentence. we were tickling each other and i said, "thaddeus, i love you."

then he said, "ii--uuf--oooo," and took my face in his hands and nuzzled me.

i am undone.

How Am I Supposed to Discipline This???!!!

2006-04-26T09:38:00.000-07:00

How, I ask????

It Isn't Pretty, but It Counts!

2006-03-24T21:26:00.000-08:00

Look who's feeding himself!

and coloring!

and Preppy (Let me introduce you to Mini-Pete!)!!

and CUTE!!

CUTER!

CUTEST!!!!!

If You Can Get Your Changing Pad Out . . .

2006-03-24T21:20:00.000-08:00

. . . and bring me a diaper because you are too wet, I think you are old enough (16 months) and smart enough to get yourself to the bathroom and use the commode.

Just a thought.

16 Months Ago Today . . .

2006-03-16T07:57:00.000-08:00

Dearest Smoochie-Face:

As I write this, you are drooling like a madman. I feel so badly for you as you chew anything that looks remotely promising . . . including the roof of your new F-P Little People Barn.

You have burst onto the Toddler Scene this month! You walk as fast as you can everywhere you can. You enjoy your daily constitutional, and those tennis shoes that you used to find abhorrent are now the signal that you are going OUTSIDE! Where there are CARS! TRUCKS! BUSES! And also, you get to play with the Shettler Kids' SLIDE! CAR! PLAYHOUSE!

Your favorite toys (aside from the Shettler Kids' toys) are your drum sticks (still), your books, your farm/barn, your multitude of electronics (old cell phones, toy PDA, real family phone), your music (especially The Philadelphia Chicken and anything with your sweetheart, Julie Andrews), anything that will stack--and your dad.

The two of you can't get enough of each other! Every morning when Daddy leaves, you stand in the window and watch him pull away, big tears often rolling down your cheeks! You now just hear the key go into the deadbolt and you drop whatever you are doing (kissing mommy, even) and dash for the back door. It's heartwarming.

You two also are a lot of trouble together. You enjoy finding mischief and delight in making Mama roll her eyes. Mischief includes going outside without your shoes (just socks. when it's rained. and it's cold. c'mon.), playing with MegaBlocks when you should be getting rocked to sleep by He-Who-Shall-Remain-Namless-But-Hint!-DADDY and blowing zerberts on my belly and making each other laugh! You also love to work on projects together, whether it is unshelving and reshelving CDs or putting together your first basketball hoop.

You are repeating words after us now. You shake your head NO a lot, but it doubles for YES (handy, that!). You do say No now ("O!" while shaking head). Yes is "Ace," said in a very approving way. You are able to point to nose, ears, eyes, mouth, teeth and belly button (your personal favorite body part). You do the hand motions to "I'm a Little Pile of Tin" and "Pat-A-Cake." You understand almost everything we say, which is terrifying and awesome! You are attempting to dress yourself and practice putting your shoes on a lot. You also practice putting on Daddy's shoes, too.

Favorite game? You get real quiet and of course, I am happy. Then, you start calling for me. I go look for you and find you HALFWAY UP THE STAIRS. You are watching for me and grinning as big as you please when I come into your view. You LOVE this game! I pretend-scold you, you laugh (and SNORT!), I grab you and put you in the living room and tell you that you are supposed to stay safely in the living room! You wait a few seconds, head down the hall as fast as you can, quietly climb the stairs and then call for me . . . and so it goes! One time, Mama wasn't on the ball and you called and called and I wasn't aware we were playing the game so I kept telling you to come in the living room, Silly! Then you started to cry !! I ran to the back of the house. You were AT THE TOP OF THE STAIRS and SO! VERY! SAD! that I had not played the game right. Mama felt very, very, very, very, very bad. Now, sometimes I play the game even when you aren't, just to make sure.

The Shettlers passed on (so joyfully!) an item they no longer need: a potty chair! So I decided to see what you did with it, see if you would make friends with it and WANT TO USE IT--Don't you want to be a Potty Prodigy??? You did have a lot of fun with it, but no interest in using it for its intended--ahem--function.

You still are an incredibly cuddly child. At least once a day you take my face in your hands, lean your forehead to mine, slide so that we are cheek-to-cheek (something we have done since you were born) and make "Aaaahhhhhhh....." sounds. You love you some bare skin, too. If you happen to catch me without my pants on, you race to my legs and start petting them!

You still surround yourself with pretty women and you don't have to do any real coaxing!

On our trip to Vermont you made some new friends: Kyla and Alaina and you had a mutual love fest. Kyla and their cousin Carolyn took care of you while we watched Alaina play basketball, the highlight of which was her three-pointer at the game buzzer THAT WENT IN!!! We all cheered like crazy!

You have added to your caregiver harem as well! Emily is a love and she makes you laugh more than anyone else! The two of you together are music to my ears as I am getting things done around the house. Emily is pre-med and so we are grateful she takes time off from her studies to hang with you!

Speaking of our trip to Vermont, you are the best traveler--I cannot sing your praises enough! Every time we get off a plane, at least one person tells me that they would travel anywhere with you! You watch people and planes until we push back from the gate, at which time you snuggle down for your nap. You wake up just as the plane is landing and then entertain. You're even a sport on those pesky layovers!

While in Vermont you were aware for the first time of the cold weather and snow (you don't really remember Minnesota). We were prepared for it!

You also LOVE PUPPIES! I am so happy because now Daddy has to get us one :) You got to meet Joey (a few years old) and Chloe (a couple months old--about your age!). They belong to Mike, Kathy, Kyla and Alaina and you enjoyed all four of them so much. AND they had this great car that you could take shelter in from the dogs.

You also met some dear, dear friends of mine, the Milhouses. They have prayed for us for a very long time and have loved us well. I was so grateful to introduce you to them and vice versa. They are saints. Real saints, not the plastic kind.

You and Kyla, Horsewoman of Elegance

You and Alaina, Basketball Queen

On the plane trip home, you found a girlfriend. Her name is Mimi and you are the same age. However, I think we need to go over the guidelines for sexual harrassment and what is appropriate girl/boy behavior . . . Methinks you have too much Daddy in you . . . Sigh.

All in all, it has been a busy, wonderful month with you, Thaddeus. You continue to amaze us and we still look at each other and ask, "Isn't he the best? He can't get any cuter!" And although I don't think you can, you do.

You just do.

With all my heart, I do love you, Thaddeus. Happy Monthday, Son!

xoxo Mama

Dear Thaddeus @ Fifteen Months!

2006-02-19T17:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Thaddeus:

Happy 15-Month Day! I cannot believe you are 15 months . . . I honestly feel like just yesterday you were snuggled into my neck and your feet reached just to the bottom of my ribcage. Now, they are hanging down mid-thigh. At the same time it seems like you have always been with us. You have made yourself an integral and irreplaceable member of the family. Your daddy and I delight in you every day. You ease my life, Sweet Boy.

Right now you are changing before our eyes. You had your first haircut a few days ago. Nana took just a little off the back—you were looking like a redneck Christopher Lloyd J So now you look even more like your daddy. Put you in the uniform—a pair of khakis, button-down shirt and loafers—and Daddy has his own Mini-Me!

You are solidly walking now, too. When Daddy walks in the door you run to him! It’s been several days since I’ve seen you drop to a crawl and so I know you are well and truly an ambulatory convert. I got you a pair of tennis shoes and you weren’t sure about them at first. They are stiff, heavy and more confining than the Robees, but you beg for them now so we can walk up and down the block.

Nana took you for your first non-stroller walk and it was hard to get you back into the house. The following days you would pound on the door and call “Nananana! Nana! Nananana!” So she would tell you to get your shoes and off you would go. You couldn’t get out that door fast enough! When we come upon uneven pavement, you stop, explore the uneven bit with your toe and then “climb” the piece of pavement. All of this with a lot of cheerleading from us!

Speaking of Nana, she visited for a week and after a few days you were glad to have your partner in crime back in residence. Daddy and I had to watch her or she would give you sugar and spoil you! When she went down to her room you would walk over to the door and pound on it while calling for her. She didn’t get as much down (smoking) time as she tried! You watched the first NASCAR race of the season together (sigh . . . ). She helped us get you sleeping in your own crib for your naps AND at night.

Sleep. Oh how I love sleep. Oh how I wish you would love it, too! You are doing better and better. As a matter of fact, this last week you would lie down and go back to sleep if I just said to you, “NightNight, Thad. Love the Piggy.” (Piggy, a life-size floor pillow that Daddy got you on your first birthday, now resides in the crib and has made nighttime soooo much better!) Three times I didn’t have to get up; I just had to reassure you verbally and back to sleep you went. Bless you, Son. Bless you, bless you, bless you.

You are becoming more verbal. I would say you understand a high percentage of what we say to you. When asked, you will point to eyes, ears, nose and mouth (though you haven’t spoken them yet). You will tell us what sound a cow, a kitty, a piggy, a chicken and a tiger make. You say “yea,” “Dad” or “Dada,” “Mom” or “Mama” (although you love to tease me by calling me Dada while looking right at me! I smile at you and say “Mama! I’m MAMA!” and you just grin at me! Turkey!).

You also understand no and yes—in that order! I guess I have been shaking my head negatively when telling you “Off limits,” because now you will start shaking your head no when reaching for something off limits—with a smile on your face, of course! Last week you started toward the CD shelves, got about two feet from them, started shaking your head no, did a U-turn and smiled at me. You let us know if you don’t want something or respond to an offer with a shake of your head. I’m grateful you are not shouting it at me . . . yet. You do shake your head yes occasionally, but more often you just grab what is offered or launch yourself at what you want.

You also understand the phone. You will go over to it, bend very close and call “Dada! Dada!” So we will call Dada and you will click! And ork! And Mmph! at him on the phone while walking around with the phone in your hand.

You have some fun new toys since your birthday. You love your activity cube and enjoy trying to figure out what all the sides can do. You also love your Little People Farm and have literally spent hours playing with the animals and the farmer and working all the sounds. Joy! You continue to love music and our new favorite CD is Sandra Boynton’s “Philadelphia Chickens” which includes performances by Meryl Street, Kevin Bacon & the Bacon Brothers and Laura Linney. Your favorite songs right now are “Cows,” “The Belly Button Song” and “Please Can I Keep Him?”

You also sing and dance! Just three opening notes and your feet start moving and hips start going a bit. You will sing or hum along. You often will pat your hand to the beat or wave your arms in time. You definitely have your groove going! And your drumming continues to get better and better!

You are an affectionate little boy. You freely hug those you know and love. You often pat my back when I am holding you. We also have several “cheek-to-cheek” moments throughout the day. You hold the side of my face to yours and we just stay there for 10 seconds or so. I had no idea heaven could be experienced in just 10 seconds, but it can.

In short, Thaddeus, you just keep getting more delightful, fun, loving and lovable, cuter and dearer with each passing month. I could write 1000 more words on all the wonders of you. Your daddy and I rejoice in your every developmental milestone and new discovery and we look forward to watching you grow, God willing.

At Least Someone! Is Getting Some Sleep In This House.

2006-02-10T09:45:00.000-08:00

Delicious!

2006-02-10T09:39:00.000-08:00

I was talking with someone about Thad and found myself unable to find words to describe his addition to my life. Last night--or this morning--at 3a, it came to me: DELICIOUS!! He is just delicious!

Elmo, Super Grover & Dad!

2006-02-10T08:59:00.000-08:00

13.5 Months & Walking!

2006-01-07T09:14:00.000-08:00

Thaddeus-Love:

Since your first birthday, you have decided to take off! You are walking!!! Not all the time; you still find crawling a safer and quicker way to get to your daddy FAST! when he walks through the door in the evening! You are not cautious; rather, you seem to want to do things perfectly before committing yourself to them.

You are babbling with inflections and saying a few more words: "quack", "bawk" and of course, your favorite "hat!" Tasks are still performed with various hats on your head:

You are a charmer, Sir Thaddeus! Everywhere we go you have a smile and an eye-twinkle for people. You are genuinely interested in people's faces and suffer very little stranger-danger or separation-anxiety. You have mastered your Uncle Christian's wrinkled-nose smile and bestow that on people you especially love. It cracks them up!

You also are very facile with your hands. You can stack five small blocks and you can turn small knobs. You LOVE to play the drum--which Daddy and I are THRILLED about as we are both frustrated percussionists! You like to push your rocking chair or your pushcart down the hall at breakneck speed. You also will ride your "bike" for a time. And when Uncle John rocks you on it, you can hardly stay awake!!

You will sit for 10 minutes thumbing through books on your own, telling yourself the stories in your own language. Even better is when Mom or Daddy will read to you--oh, books AND attention!!

You also are getting better with the spoon! Yea!!!! You can get stickier foods to your mouth by turning the spoon upside down and into your mouth.

You also met more of your cousins this last week: John and Megan were very excited to meet you, too! And you have REAL THING for your Aunt Bryn, too! You flirted shamelessly, right in front of your mother!!

For a few hours, the whole Christianson/Rose Family was together and Kid Kaos reigned! You loved watching your older cousins and they loved to make you laugh. Megan would literally do anything to hear your famous belly laugh!

You had sweet time with your Grandparents Christianson. They adore you!

Whenever I go out with you, I feel like I am making the world a better place . . . spreading a little joy . . . because you are so smiley and good. Daddy and I are grateful for your easygoing spirit and your lovely countenance. You are, truly, a joy!

Much, much love,

Your mommy ("Mom")

Birthday Candids of Young Master Thaddeus

2005-12-12T19:21:00.000-08:00

Thad actually had TWO birthdays: one in Iowa (piggybacked on Aunt Rae's celebration) and then the one at home in Seattle. Here are a few candids of our SmoochieFace!

Nana gave him his own "smash cake." The waitresses were soooo happy . . . !

Notice the hair frosting.

Thad & Tyler plotting which toy to play with next!

SuperBaby! A Belated Halloween Posting

2005-12-12T18:52:00.000-08:00

When Pete was 6, he met Batman. Not THE Batman, or even the Adam West Batman, but to his way of thinking--Batman!! It made an impact on him. In his adult life he has been Batman every year for Halloween. As a matter fact one of the first things we did together as friends was chase all over town for items to fill his utility belt. (As a side note, he didn't invite me to the party to which he was going! He dropped me off after we had dinner and he went on to the party! Pete, Pete . . . )

Anyway, we have talked about what Thad would be for his first Halloween since before we even had him. The thought was Robin. Then we talked about Thad being Batman and Pete being Robin. However, as time got closer we decided Thad should have his own thing, but stay in the SuperHero category. So Thad was Superman this year.

(My mom bought him an adorable Batman outfit, complete with cape, which he loves to wear! It was short-sleeved, so we decided to make that an indoor outfirt.)

Pete and Thad went around the neighborhood with our nextdoor neighbors the Shettlers and the Colinos. They had so much fun! Thad came back with candy (I LOVE having children!!) and very, very heavy eyelids.

Pete then put on his costume in order to hand out candy to others. We had some interesting others:

Schwartzenegger and a nun? Okay.

That same weekend, we went to our local nursery, Swanson's (wonderful!) for fall activities. Here are a few snaps from that little trip. Our extra "son" is our neighbors' son, Stephen Shettler, who came with us to "help us with Thad"!!

Getting ready to go!

Dad & Thad Riding the Great Pumpkin!

Thad muscling another pumpkin around!

HOW CAN THIS BE?!?? THAD TURNS ONE!!

2005-12-08T22:08:00.000-08:00

Dearest Sweet Thad:

You turned one a few weeks back . . . I have written this letter a million times in my head, but I am just getting around to posting it.

How can I begin to tell you all that you mean to your daddy and me? Our lives are richer, more complicated, less rested, more fun, less stable, more exciting, less predictable, more exciting, less hopeless, more joyful than they were one year ago. There may be parents that are as grateful as we are for you, but not more grateful. We are humbled that God gave you to us.

People describe you as the happiest, easiest baby they have been around. Other words used are delightful, charming, funny, a character, amazing, too cute, handsome, huge eyes, delicious, etc., etc., etc.

You are starting to get to know yourself which means you are figuring out what you do and don't like, what you do and don't want to do, and how to assert your new-found self. This particular developmental milestone is thrilling and terrifying for us. The question we ask ourselves constantly is How do we shape and direct his spirit without crushing it? The battles are small right now--skirmishes, really. But how we answer the question will determine how future battles go. What are the skirmishes? "No touch (Daddy's/Mommy's) glasses." "No put your finger in (Daddy's/Mommy's) nose." "No touch the (fill in the blank)."

Mostly, though, you are very little trouble. You really are a very easy baby! Daddy and I love to watch you play. You are a person who focuses on the task at hand and always is doing something. You like to figure things out and will persevere until you have done your best to achieve your goal. Some of your favorite things to do: put on hats

read books

dance to any music that comes on--from cd's we play to plinky little tunes on your toys--it all moves you. You follow your dad around and work on projects (always putting a hat on first!). . .

You are very smart and you learn very quickly. You emulate your dad in every way you can. If he is eating it, that food immediately is your favorite. Whatever he does, you want to do it!

But what everyone comments on, what melts the coldest heart, what heals the achiest hurt, what soothes the savage beast, is your huge-eyed smiles!

You are incredibly generous with those smiles, Thaddeus. They involve your whole face, from your eyes to the bottom of your chin. They light up a room!

You are the joy of our lives, Thaddeus.

So happy birthday, Buddy. You are a gift we could never thank God enough for if we took our whole lives. You are the apple of our eyes and the joy of our hearts.

Happy Birthday, Son!

BEHOLD I AM MAKING ALL THINGS NEW!

2005-11-06T11:40:00.000-08:00

About a month after I found out I was pregnant, I turned 40. Have you ever seen those coffee mugs that say, "Would you rather be 40? Or pregnant??!"? Well, I was pretty grateful to be both.

I love that I am a little older, a little wiser as I am entering motherhood. I have a lot more patience than I did at 25. I am better able to discern small stuff from big things. I know how to enjoy life a bit better. And I have suffered a little in my life, so I am much more grateful than I was in my 20s, or even early 30s. So emotionally, psychologically and spiritually, I am glad that Thad has come now rather than earlier.

My body, however, has also traveled the years and it has not weathered the journey quite as well. Some of that is due to my own abuse of it: hating exercise, loving chocolate and lobster and wanting to deny that I even have a body. The rest of it is due to wear and tear of living a full life: roller-blading and dancing knee injuries, car accidents (at least the '72 pinto didn't blow up!), traveling all over the world in old, bouncy Ford vans, etc., etc., etc.

Some days I flog myself for letting my body get into such a condition that I can't roll around on the floor with Thaddeus. But I realize that if I want to enjoy Thad, and I want to be enjoyed by him, flogging won't help. What will help is a good balanced diet and a renewed desire to get into shape.

I want my body to match my heart, mind and soul. I want to be made new in all things. Paul said that "I can do ALL THINGS through Jesus Christ, Who gives me strength."

"Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." I don't want to settle for just the mind or just the body. I want ALL God has for me: total renewal, nothing less.

So here's the scoop: Through Jesus' strength, I am going to surrender to renewal. Not to lose weight, although that is necessary. And not to look great, although I don't mind looking great (well, maybe I do, but that is another post for another blog!). But to enjoy and be enjoyed by my husband and son.

I am going to aquacize several times a week. I am going to walk with Thad several times a week (at a brisk pace, though!). I am going to give up some of my late-night ice cream treats.

And I am going to roll around on the floor with my son.

And I am going to walk with my husband.

And I am going to live to not only see my grandchildren, but to enjoy them.

And I am going to enjoy my self: my 41-year-old, wiser, calmer, less fearful, more joyful self.

My reasonable sacrifice to God and for the future generations.

2005-10-21T09:55:00.000-07:00

Enjoying Each Other!

The New Dog's New Tricks!

2005-10-20T23:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Thad:

I forgot to mention a couple of other wonderful things you started doing this last month or so! How could I forget!!!?!!

First, you do this really cute thing when we are reading books, which you LOVE (praise God!!)!! Because your daddy wants you to learn words, he runs his index finger under the words as he reads the book to you (and I do, too, now). Well, now you do it, too. You don't run your index finger under the words . . . it sort of goes all over the page, but usually in a straight left-to-right line! It is so funny. You hold the book with your left hand right next to mine and you take your right index finger and run it along every page. We can't turn the page until you are done.

And then!!! You TURN THE PAGE with your thumb and index finger! Whether it's a board book or paper pages, you get one page and you turn it. Sometimes you know when to do it, like when the reader pauses. Other times, I simply say, "Do you want to turn the page, Thaddy?" (I call you Thaddy sometimes, but I am programming my brain already not to call you that out in public or around your friends because c'mon: THADDY??? No little boy needs that kind of headache.) When I ask, you snap-to, kind of like "Oh yeah! I need to turn the page!" Then you turn it! It is TOO CUTE.

Second, you have started clapping your hands in your sleep! You learned this trick last month and you love to do it. Now I've caught you a couple times rolling over and clapping your hands. They don't always meet each other (YOU try and clap your hands in your sleep, Dear Reader!), but in your heart you are keeping the beat, Baby!

Finally, you wave bye-bye! You smile really big and wave your hand to let people know that you are happy they stopped by and you are wishing them well on their journey onward. Plus, you love that I am praising you like a crazy woman while you are doing it. You'd think you had cured cancer (which I know you are not far from doing) or something.

Still--you are communicating!

I didn't want any new schtick to go unnoticed.

Because I am your biggest fan, Son. Always.

Like Father, Like Son . . . Especially the Bum!

2005-10-19T20:22:00.000-07:00

There are pictures of Pete in just this position! Cuuuuuuuuuuutttttttteeeeee!

My SLEEPING angel. SLEEPING! At night! Yea!

ELEVEN MONTHS of Thaddilicious Life!

2005-10-19T19:40:00.000-07:00

Thaddeus turned 11 months on Sunday! We celebrated by oohing and aahing over him, marveling over all his developmental milestones and crawling on the floor with him.

Thad, you have electrified my world! You change every single day. Your smile is indescribable--it radiates from your eyes and lets the recipient know that you delight in them. Your sense of humor is a key part of your personality already! Your dad says, "Peeka!" and then "Boooooooooo!" and you just roar with laughter.

You still have that great crab-crawl going, and I finally figured out that it is your way of at least semi-walking since you can't figure out how to do it all the way yet. It's not for lack of trying, though. You are taking a couple steps in between pieces of furniture. You regularly try to stand. The interesting thing is that you can squat without holding onto anything . . . how do you do that?

You are strangely fascinated by paper towels. Actually, it's not so strange--your father, grandfather and great-aunt Ann save and re-use paper towels, so there are always three or 50(!) drying on various surfaces. You like to wipe things with them and you like to tear them.

Which leads me to your other fascination: toilet paper and--yech!--TOILETS! The latter love I can again lay at your father's feet. From your early infancy, you and your dad have played in the sink with the water. You both love to splash around in it. You were frustrated that you couldn't get to it on your own, though. Until now.

Your daddy was on the phone and I was in the kitchen. You were in neither one of our presence and that was unfortunate. Suddenly, I heard waves. While we are somewhat close to the ocean here in Seattle, I have yet to hear waves at our house. So I started walking toward the sound.

You were UP TO YOUR ELBOWS in toilet water . . . and happier than the happiest person in the world!

Your expression seemed to say, "Has this been here the whole time? Why didn't someone tell me that there was water on my level??? I've wasted MONTHS waiting for Daddy to come home and hold me over the sink. THIS IS GREAT, Mom!"

You are babbling away now. In addition to YEA!, you have been known to say Dada, No (sigh), BwebBwebBweb. You are also loving music more and more. If I start singing Doe A Dear, you look over to the stereo and wait for me to put the CD on so you can hear JULIE sing it! You really enjoy Daddy's drumsticks and the new drum you have.

You definitely came with a Will! You are able to let me know when I am not pleasing you. You are really exploring where the boundaries are and what my limits are with you. The CDs on the shelf, folded laundry, Mommy and Daddy's laptops, the toilet paper . . . all are calling out your name quite loudly. Equally as loud is Mommy's voice telling you "No touch the (fill in the blank), Thaddeus. Thank you!" Which voice to hear, which voice to hear? I can see the struggle all over your face. So far, though, you are easily redirected and if you do throw a fit, they never last more than 30 seconds or so. You are a good baby.

The Sleep Issue still is with us. Daddy and I say we want you in your crib, but we miss you when you aren't with us. Plus, you are none too happy to be in your jail, as you seem to regard your crib. You are just now starting to sleep through the night with only one or two wake-ups. Mommy is very, very grateful. MOMMY IS VERY, VERY, VERY GRATEFUL, HONEY!!!

Daddy and I still turn to each other and say, "How did we get so blessed? Isn't he the best?"

You are. Just. The. Best.

Enjoy your last month of babyhood . . . Next month you are a TODDLER!

xoxo Mommy

HE IS JUST. SO. VERY. YUMMY. YUMMYYUMMYYUMMY!!!

2005-10-12T18:48:00.000-07:00

BABY FETISHES or I CAN'T WAIT TO BE A PAPER BOY!!!

2005-10-08T20:44:00.000-07:00

I only turned my back for FIVE SECONDS. HONEST. JUST FIVE LITTLE SECONDS. When I turned, the Thaddinator was gone. I called him. "Thaddy! Where are you baby!!?" I heard a scuffle, the slide-clump of the crab-crawl, coming from the bathroom. I turned the corner and saw this:

Unbelievable, I had the camera in my hand. And people say there isn't a God!!

His paper fetish is expressed in many ways. Apparently, not only do I not dust enough, but I have not been cleaning the kitchen floor to the ThadPole's standards . . .

He's giving me a Thaddipus Complex!

Still, with a smile this . . . He can clean my house anytime!!

I LIKE ME SOME PRETTY GIRLS!

2005-10-08T20:37:00.000-07:00

Meet Tara, the new nanny! Thad took to her from the moment she walked in the door! They enjoy a few hours together three times a week so mommy can get some things done (or take a nap, whichever seems more NECESSARY at the time!). Tara is wonderful and we feel fortunate to have her through the end of the year!

Those are TOTALLY the Shepherd-Christianson Genes--With MAYBE a HINT! of ANDERSON!!

2005-10-05T15:56:00.000-07:00

His first pasta dinner . . . which ended up all over his face, in his ears, throughout his hair and in the near and far environs!

Methinks you are having too much fun, my son!

Yes, yes . . . the Christianson genes. That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!

BINKADELIC, BABY!

2005-10-01T18:26:00.000-07:00

Thaddeus guarding his stash. This is the baby who REFUSED to take a pacifier until he was, like, FIVE MONTHS OLD. And then, ONLY FOR HIS NANA. Now he stockpiles them, hiding them in strategic places so that he is never more than 10 steps away from one should crying be required.

He deals binkies, truth be known. He will let you have one. For a price. Namely, time at Mommy's Milk Bar.

Sometimes a pickle will entice him (thanks to Aunt Julie!). For a while. Because the sourness is just so . . . intense. But before long, he has to have his fix again.

So he crab-crawls off to find his stash and work one over with his one snaggletooth.

Still, the pickle is pretty worn by the time he's done with it. And watching him pucker is Just. So. Delicious!

But the best thing about thing about the bink is that IT IS PORTABLE, unlike the pickle, which the 'rents make him sit in once place to eat, with a cloth under his chin. Sigh.

So he just pops the bink in the mouth, case the joint for new places to explore and then sets off!

And if he is really lucky, he might encounter Daddy and be able to crawl ALL OVER HIM AND WRESTLE HIM AND SUCK ON HIS NOSE AND ON HIS KNEE AND ON HIS KNUCKLE AND ON HIS HEAD AND MAYBE I CAN GET HIS GLASSES BEFORE HE TELLS ME NO OR TAKES THEM OFF, IF I AM SNEAKY AND ACT NONCHALANT LIKE THE LAST THING I WANT IN THE WORLD I WANT IS DADDY'S GLASSES.

Cause I'm BINKADELIC, BABY!

SWEET BABY!

2005-09-28T19:49:00.000-07:00

When Thad smiles at you, it is like everything else fades to the background. It doesn't matter how tired I am, how frazzled or defeated I feel. Thad has smiled at me, with real eye contact. Nothing else matters. Those cheerios (affectionately called donut seeds in our home)? They will still be there for the vacuum tomorrow! The toys in all four corners of the room and all points in between? They say that THAD LIVES HERE! YEA! He is a sweet baby. And lest you think that I am biased (which I am, but I also have other objective feedback), all of his caretakers, his special aunts, his extra-special aunts, several uncles and the landlady AGREE WITH ME. Don't get me wrong: he is all boy! But he is first and foremost a

SWEET BABY!

BOYS GONE WILD! Part II

2005-09-27T14:45:00.000-07:00

I am so very in trouble . . .

Pete had a conference call the other day for work. His participation was required.

Pete had a son who wanted to be with his dad. His cooperation was required.

So Pete, always on the lookout for any reason to put on his headset, multitasked! Women: Did you catch this??? My husband MULTITASKED during which one of the items he had to multitask with was a baby--HIS baby!

So along with the accolades and rejoicing there had to be picture-taking as well! Because my husband????? HE MULTITASKED!

AND THAD WAS COMPLETELY QUIET AND RESTED IN HIS DADDY'S ARMS FOR THE ONE-HOUR-PLUS CONFERENCE CALL.

Do I live with great men or what!

Downside? Thad wants his own headset.

Not going to happen, my little friend. Not going to happen.

WILD BOYS IN SEATTLE!! And an Addendum to the Thaddilicious List!

2005-09-26T19:41:00.000-07:00

When I came around the corner, they knew they had been caught! They told me they were going to have some soup together, but I assumed (I know, I know; silly Mommy! SILLY MOMMY!) the dining a deux would involve a bib, a booster seat and a . . . SPOON! (Silly Mommy, SILLY MOMMY!)

They were so excited . . . Thad was eating non-jarred, non-boiled-and-mashed-to-within-an-inch-of-its-life, prepared-with-spices, big-people food! AND HE COULD PUT WHOLE FISTSFUL IN HIS MOUTH! IN RAPID SUCCESSION! WITHOUT SWALLOWING INBETWEEN!! His dad is so proud. So we had to photograph it. And photograph it. And photograph it some more.

I am SOOOOO grateful that there is digital media now! That alone is almost worth my not having a baby until I was 40! Otherwise, we would be broke: the film, developing, reprints, sending to family would bankrupt us LONG before the food bill! Now I can click to my heart's content. (Although Thad's future bride may not be so thrilled when I sit her down to show her "just a few pictures of Thad as he was growing up . . . he was so cute! It won't take too long. Let me rev up the 100-gigabyte hard drive . . ." )

Of course, all good things must come to an end and shoveling all those fistsful of food into a mouth takes a lot of CONCENTRATION and ENERGY and EFFORT! So all that's left to do is clean up.

What's that you say? You need help cleaning him up? I thought this was a Wild Boys activity! I am just here to record the event . . .

But who can resist that pouty plea? And Thad was pretty cute, too!

THADDILICIOUS ADDENDUM: He also WAVES BYE-BYE! He is proud, but I think I am even prouder! I crow loudly and point it out to everyone: "Look! He's waving goodbye! Isn't he the cutest!? I mean, really . . . isn't he just so adorable?!" Pete and I are so over-the-top.

Still. What's not to be over-the-top about? Look at our Thaddypus!

Oh. Are We Already at This Developmental Milestone? Really? Do You Really Want to Do This So SOON?!

2005-09-24T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is what happens when you finally change your son's stinky diaper . . . it empowers him to CLIMB. And very fast! I turned to gather up the aforementioned dirty diaper and attendant cleaning tools and when I turned back, Thad was half in the activity table (I didn't read that this is one of the activities for which it is designed. I need to check that little pamphlet-thingy again, clearly.). I just sat there thinking, "Well, this will be good exercise for him to try and try and try to get all the way up." As this naive, silly-mommy thought was going through my mind, Thad was up and in and on his way to the coffee table . . .

Since the coffee table is also my work table, he first had to survey the topography to determine how to get hand- and footholds amidst mommy's work.

He also starting dancing a jig because Julie Andrews started singing A Few of My Favorite Things which happens to be one of his favorite things. What can I say? My son has priorities!

Anyway, he was pretty determined to get onto the coffee table but you could tell he was a little more cautious about how to do it and what he would do after he made the climb.

So he kept rockin' out, stopping every once and a while to flash his poor old distraught-yet-fascinated mother a grin that communicated volumes: "You poor woman. I have seduced you with my cuddliness, my wit, my laughter at your lame animal noises . . . Now you belong to me, heart and soul . . . Now my real fun begins: I am going to climb, Climb, CLIMB! Your heart will never be the same. This is only the beginning, Mother Dear!!"

My little cherub . . . I applaud your sense of adventure, your physical prowess (also evident in your artful gymnastics to avoid diapering, dressing, undressing and a thousand other things), your strategic thinking, your fearlessness (written now with much fear and trepidation), your energy and your tenacity! These are qualities that your daddy and I very much want to form in you--in addition to caution, care and safety!

As I helped you DOWN DOWN DOWN, I was thrilled and I mourned. My little baby is really gone. He is desparate to walk and climb and GO, MOM! But I am thrilled, too! You have such a wonderful personality, Thaddypus. When Julie Andrews sings Getting to Know You she puts to words the adventure that is mine: learning to read my son--to delight in his accomplishments, to mourn his misses, to laugh when he laughs, to comfort when he cries and most importantly, to teach him to live a grace-filled life.

And of course, to take great care with his poor old mom's heart. Please God. Amen.

TEN MONTHS OF THADDILICIOUS FUN!!!

2005-09-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

Thaddeus turned 10 months last week. I wanted to write on the day, but given his age it is not hard to understand why that didn't happen. I hope.

So here are the Ten Things That Make Thad Thaddilicious:

10. He is SO EASY! He doesn't cry very much. He eats well. He plays well. He is smart. He enjoys life and loves to be enjoyed.
9. He is SO FUN! He loooovvvveeessssss to laugh. He laughs at our laughter. He laughs at his rocking chair. He laughs at himself in the mirror. He will even laugh in the midst of crying!
8. He LOVES MY MUSIC!! Thad will fall asleep to me singing hymns. He has a special thing for Julie Andrews (sorry, Pete). He enjoys a good country song. But best of all, he gets the biggest kick out of "I'm a Little Pile of Tin," the best song in the world.
7. He is GORGEOUS. While shopping the other day in a few different stores, I was stopped no fewer than five times and told how beautiful my baby is and how huge his eyes are and what a great flirty-bird he is!
6. He CRAWLS LIKE A LAND CRAB! My son has invented a new, more fun way of crawling: instead of two hands and two knees, he prefers two hands, a left foot and a right knee. He is quite fast and I think it bodes well for a love of seafood!
5. He has a NEW SNAGGLETOOTH! He went to bed toothless as a little old mountain man and woke up with a razor-sharp, pearly-white, oh-so-useful TOOTH. We think more may come, but so far . . .
4. He LOVES HIS DAD AND MOURNS WHEN HE LEAVES FOR WORK. Thad clutches onto his daddy's button-down shirt, lays his head on his chest and looks away from me as if to say, "If I don't see you, you don't exist and my dad will stay home and wrestle with me!" (He graciously only cries a few minutes when Daddy leaves so my heart isn't completely ripped out of my chest.)
3. HE IS A CLEAN-FREAK! He loves to take a cloth (his favorite is the red and white one knitted by his Great Grandma Johnnie) and wipe off his little rocking chair, the coffee table, his little rocking chair, his little rocking chair some more . . . I told him that I get the message and I will start dusting once a week even though those EVIL MEN WHO ARE BUILDING A BOX HOUSE ON A POSTAGE-STAMP-SIZE OF LAND ARE KICKING UP ALL KINDS OF DIRT, VIA NOISE THAT INTERRUPTS YOUR NAP, EVERY SINGLE DAY. Um, but he is clean and I like that in a person.
2. He UNDERSTANDS ME! zabjzzzzzzzzzbJ (the previous communication brought to you by Thaddilicious Thaddeus). I ask him to take off his bib--he does it. I ask him to find his binky--he does it. I tell him no--HE DOES IT!
1. HIS FIRST WORD WAS "YEA!" How great is that?! Yea!

That's exactly my sentiment, Thad. We have you in our lives . . . Daddy and I continually say, "YEA!"

We know the excitement of getting a present- we love to unwrap it to see what is inside. So it is with our children – they are gifts we unwrap for years as we discover the unique characters God has made them.
--Cornelius Plantinga

New Theme & Format

2005-08-27T15:41:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my retooled page, ThadWatch! I am looking forward to recording the joys, concerns and developmental milestones of Thaddosaurus Rex. Since I am starting this when he is nine months old, I will have to catch it up, which I will do in the next post.

In the meantime: Thaddeus, HERE'S TO YOU, BUDDY!

2005-07-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

Thad enjoying time with his Great-Great-Aunt Rachel, who turns 90 this year!
Thaddeus enjoys some bath time in the kitchen sink--and learns how to splash!
Thad REALLY enjoyed his Uncle Christian and watching country music videos together!
Thad discovered the joy of swimming--he's a BEAUTIFUL swimmer!
Thad met more of his third cousins Zoey and Caitlin!

2005-06-11T21:07:00.000-07:00

Thad & Dad Off for Bonding Time

Pete has a saying, "Honey, this is the good stuff!" He usually says it when we have a really good conversation in which our hearts have connected, or Thad catches our hearts, or we accomplish something that takes us further toward our dreams. As I watched my two guys head off for their adventure, I thought to myself, "God, this is the good stuff--thank You!!"

Drowning

2005-06-11T17:33:00.000-07:00

I am drowning right now . . . in love for my husband and son, in despair that I will ever get the house organized, in apathy toward doing anything that takes me away from my son and in self-loathing at my post-baby body. My life is wonderful, lonely, sinful, growing, uneven and glorious.

I am trying to be a good mom: I want to read to Thad, play with thad, return his gaze.

I am trying to be a good wife: I want to grow in intimacy with Pete, I want to make his life better, I want to call good things out of him, I want to delight him.

I am trying to be a good student: I want to not just learn what I am being taught--I want to absorb it, I want to live it, I want to inhabit it, I want to synthesize it with my theology.

I am trying to be the homemaker my hearts wants to be: to be organized so that there is peace in our home, to be clean so there is order in our home, to be uncluttered so our home is a refuge.

I am trying to be more honest: to not take on what I cannot do (as Pete says, overpromise and underproduce), to finish what I do take on, to take responsibility when I fail, to confess when I do not love well.

I am not doing any of it very well--Well, I think I do well with Thad right now. And I have moments of rightness with Pete. But the last three are overwhelming me right now. School is a chore, which it has never been before. Our home is awash in clutter and paper and THINGS. I definitely overpromise.

I am trying to be still before God so that I can hear where to start. To do the next thing and not get overwhelmed.

And to enjoy my boys!

I want to be done with school RIGHT NOW. But I don't want sacrifice the last classes or the internship experience.

My Life is Thaddalicious!

2005-05-26T23:51:00.000-07:00

today i spent the whole day with Thad. now there is nothing unique about that in and of itself. i spend every day with Thad, pretty much the whole day, unless Calen the Wonder Nanny is here and i take a nap. but today i felt really present with Thad, able to enjoy him, and enjoy myself as a mom. that may not seem like a lot, but presence is something that i struggle with in my life. it is very easy for me to check out. there are lots of reasons that i know of and there are surely more that i don't know.

Thad, though, makes it quite a bit easier. he is just so amazing. i walk into the room and he lights up and i think "he is seeing me!" i don't mean it in a narcissistic way; i really mean this in the way that i allow myself to be enjoyed and to enjoy him. pete is really the only other person that i experience this with--or have in my whole life. but of course it is much harder with pete because he sees my flaws. Thad doesn't yet. i am most of his world and i meet most of his needs.

i would die if anything happened to him. if i ever had to go back to life without Thad, i would die. it makes me sick to think about ever not having him.

so please, please GOD.

1:15a.m. and i am alone

2005-05-23T01:11:00.000-07:00

I need sleep. But I also need solitude (when I am aware that I am having it, so I need to be awake for it). So I find that I stay up a little later than I would really like because it is the only time I get that is just mine right now. This isn't a complaint, really. I wouldn't trade Pete or Thad for anything. The reality is that I desire time with Pete, time with Thad, and time with me. Not to mention those people in my life that I would love to sit and chat with for a block of time. Or the books out there that need to be read by me [NOTE: Nancy Pearl has just published her second installment of Book Lust and I was disheartened by the sheer number of books that are good!

Anyway, tonight I have taken "my time" and made a webpage of photos for Thad and his friends and family. He is such a delight that I want to share him with everyone.

Oh, he is crying out for me now! Gotta go!

Denouement

2005-04-24T00:50:00.000-07:00

I am joining the multitude! It seems everywhere I turn, anyone I talk to, blogs figure in. I have been told that I should write a book. I am hoping this will get me in the habit of writing and help me chip away the stone to release the form within.

The title of this blog comes from a line out of the movie (2004 version) Shall We Dance?:

"We need a witness to our lives. There's a billion people on the planet... I mean, what does any one life really mean? But in a marriage, you're promising to care about everything. The good things, the bad things, the terrible things, the mundane things... all of it, all of the time, every day. You're saying 'Your life will not go unnoticed because I will notice it. Your life will not go un-witnessed because I will be your witness'."

My hope is to bear witness to my life and to those connected with mine, for the glory of God.